Vegetarian Vareniki Recipe

Add this Ukrainian recipe of vegetarian vareniki, with sauerkraut filling, to your Christmas Eve dinner to bring more culture to the table.

By Anya von Bremzen and John WelchmanFrom "Please to the Table"Winter 2014-15

Vareniki are a type of Ukranian dumpling that can be stuffed with a wide variety of sweet or savory fillings.Photo by Fotolia/ulyanakhorunzha

Stuffed dumplings, even the mundane kinds that you must physically put into your mouth, are a passion among Ukrainians. This love is shared by their neighbors, with almost identical foods being made by the Poles (perogi), Siberians (pelmeni), Afghans (aush), and Armenians and Uzbeks (mante). Although there are a wide range of possible fillings, ranging from vegetables to ground meat to fruit, one of the most classic is made with sauerkraut.

Consider using a pungent storage onion like the 'Australian Brown' or 'Stuttgarter.' You can (and should) make your own sauerkraut – it is easy to do, and tastes so much better than anything you can buy. We’ll tell you how to do this during the next harvest season. If you want to plan ahead, you should obtain seeds for a tightly-packed round green cabbage like 'Brunswick,' 'Glory of Enkhuizen,' or 'Premium Late Flat Dutch.'

4. Add tomato paste, sugar, and stock, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool before using to fill the vareniki.

Vareniki Dough

1. Mix flour and salt together in a medium-sized bowl.

2. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add in the oil and water, and mix into the flour with a sturdy spoon, working from the center out. If there is not quite enough water to bind up all the four, add in a little more a tablespoon at a time.

3. Once you have a ball of dough, transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 2 minutes. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

Vareniki Assembly

1. Divide dough in half and shape into two balls. Keeping one covered with a damp towel, roll the other into a very thin (1/16 inch) sheet on a floured surface. Cut into 3-inch squares.

2. Place a tablespoon of filling in the lower middle of each square, moisten the outer margins with water, and fold along the long axis, sealing the edges carefully so that the filling will not leak out.

3. Place finished vareniki onto a lightly floured sheet. Continue until all the dough has been used up (approximately 50-60 vareniki).

4. Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium so that the water is simmering.

5. Carefully place 15-20 vareniki into the water and stir occasionally (and carefully) with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking. The vareniki will rise to the surface when cooked.

6. Carefully remove the cooked vareniki with a slotted spoon and place in a colander to thoroughly drain. Transfer to a deep bowl and toss with olive oil. Repeat until all vareniki are cooked.

Jeff Nekola has a PhD in Ecology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has a passion for biodiversity in its many forms. You can learn more here.

Linda Fey’s first and finest childhood memories are of helping her mother and grandmother in the garden and then bringing in freshly picked produce to the dinner table. As an adult, she has over 20 years of experience in market gardening and teaches middle-school English. Visit www.LindaFey.com to view her writing about food and life.

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